eThekwini Municipal Lifesaving lifeguards, who had gone off duty at 18h00 as scheduled, were also activated as well as Police Search and Rescue and ambulance services.

On arrival on the scene it was noted that a male, aged in his 30’s, had gotten into difficulty in the tidal pool and a member of the public, who had been eating at a restaurant across the road from the tidal pool, had launched into the water to attempt to assist with a body board, but the casualty had been sucked out of the tidal pool in outgoing currents and surging waves. The man had disappeared beneath the waves forcing the Good Samaritan to withdraw to the safety of the beach.

Due to large breaking waves against the rocks myself and a Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue diver entered the water from the Southern point, approximately 250m South of where the incident occurred, and began a free dive search pattern in the water hampered by visibility of less than a meter under water.

With the assistance from the local community, providing extra eyes spotting for us and waving directions to us from the surrounding raised building’s, and from public members on the beach, we were able to find the man lifeless in the water and we rescued him to the beach. Paramedics from Life Response 24/7 and from Reaction Unit SA, Police Search and Rescue officers and the eThekwini lifeguards, commenced CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) on the casualty.

After all attempts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased.

Police have opened an inquest docket and his body has been taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

The community members who assisted, the Good Samaritan who entered the water with a body board, and the rapid response of all role players is commended.

Condolences are conveyed to his family and friends.

TINLEY MANOR:

Quentin Power, NSRI Ballito station commander, said:

At approximately 15h38, Friday, 17th January, NSRI Ballito received a call for assistance from Kwadakuza Municipal Lifesaving lifeguards (KDM) responding to Tinley Manor reporting a drowning in progress at a beach not protected by lifeguards.